Ball winding machine



Feb, 24, 1942. B. BoGOsLowsKY BALL WINDNG MACHINE Filed July 18, 1940 v sheets-sheet 1 NvENT ,K-44562 ATroRNEY Feb. 24, 1942. B, BoGosLowsKY BALL WINDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 1940 lNv ToR Feb. 24, .1942.

B. BoGosLowsKY BALL wINDING MACHINE Filled July 18, 1940 7 Shets-Sheet 4 lNvl-:NT

7 7' 7 ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1942. B, BoGosLowsKY 2,273,828

Fiied July 18, 1940 shets-sheex 5 B. BoGosLowsKY' 2,273,828 A BALL WINDNG MACHINE v sheets-sheet e `Fled July 18, 1940 Feb. 24, .1942..

B. BoGosLowsKY BALL WINDING MACHINE Filed July 18`l 1940 7 sheets-sheet 7 vx-:NTo

" 7' 7 ATroRNEY Patented Feb. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,273,828 BALL WINDING MACHINE Boris Bogoslowsky, New York, N. Y.

- Application July 18, 1940, Serial No. 346,109

10 Claims.

secting it at the geometric center of the ball.

It is a further obiect of the invention to provide a machine which is simple in construction and operation and which' may be operated at high speed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may appear hereinafter.

One vembodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the' accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine with certain parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation partly in vertical section showing the principal working parts of the machine;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the same, partly in horizontal section;

Figure 5 is a left side elevation of th'e same;

Figure 6 is a section 0n the line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a further enlarged vertical section through the winding heads;

Figure 8 is a vertical section 8.--8 of Figure 7;

Figures 9, 10 and l1 are vertical sections taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 7, Figure 9 showing the -ball held between the parts 9B and 9B', Fig-v ure 10 showing the parts rotated through 180 with the ball h'eld between the parts 9A and 9A' and Figure 11 showing an intermediate position with the ball aboutto be transferred fromthe parts 9A, 9A' to the parts 9B, 9B; and t Figure 12 is a diagramma/tic view illustrating certain winding steps of the machine.

Referring to the drawings (Figures 1 and 2), the machine is supported on a base frame I on which is mounted a motor 2 which furnishes the drive for th'e machine. On top of the base frame are upright standards 3 in which is journaled for rotation a main drive shaft 4, driven from the motor 2 through pulleys 5 and 6 and a belt 1.

Above the shaft 4 and parallel thereto are two oppositely disposed tubular shafts 8 respectively taken on the line supporting winding heads 9 and 9 oppositely disposed and adapted to hold-therebetween a ball. I0 being wound. The shafts 8 are not only rotatably mounted but also are slidable axially with respect to their supports and are urged toward one anoth'er by means of a dead weight II acting through suitable toggle mechanism. 'I'he machine illustrated in Figure 1 has two duplicate counter parts 'or halves and in the following decription only one half will be described in deail.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 for a more detailed description of the mechanism, drive shaft 4 in addition to nmning in bearings in the standards 3 runs in bearings 50, mounted in a double standard 5 I 5 Ia extending upwardly from the frame 3. Secured to the shaft 4 and mounted between the double standards 5I, 5Ia is drive gear 52 suitably held from lateral motion with respect to the inner races of the bearings 50 by means of washers 53. Gear 52 meshes with and drives a gear 54 mounted above it. 'I'he gear 54 is secured as by screws to a sleeve 55 mounted for rotation in bearings 56, supported in the double standards'SI, 5Ia. The sleeve 55, thus driven by the gear 54, is sufficiently long axiswise to give rm support to the tubular shaft 8 which is mounted for sliding movement in the sleeve 55. Rotation of the sleeve 55 drives the sh'aft 8 through longitudinal keys 5'I mounted in the shaft and engaging key-ways 58 provided in the sleeve 55. Thus both axial and rotational movement of the shaft 8 is provided, for with this construction.

Mounted on the inner end of the shaft 8 and for rotation therewith is a bracket I2 which supports the winding head 9. 'As previously stated, the core or ball I0 being wound is held between the winding heads 9, 9 by a suitable Jompressive force sufficient to hold the ball in place between the winding heads and to cause it to turn with them to unwind the elastic strand I3 from its spool I4 against the frictional resistance applied to the passage of the elastic strand.

To permit this compressive force to be maintained and yet at the same time permit the' winding heads to be displaced to accommodate the increasing diameter of the ball as successive windings are applied, the tubular shafts 8 are f urged toward one another by means of the dead weight II The weight II is suspended by means of wire links SII from toothed segments 6I which mesh with each other as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Each toothed segment is secured to the end of a lever 62, which in turn is mounted on and secured to a shaft 63 rotatably supported in bearings 84-88 extending from the outer standard 8l of the double standard 8|, 8Ia.

Referring to Figure 6,`secured to and extending upwardly from the shaft 68 are two arms 66 engaging at their upper ends outwardly extending pins 61 set in a central disc 68 concentric with the shaft 8 but free from rotation with respect thereto. 'I'his disc 68 forms part of a thrust bearing generally indicated at 69 through which the force of the dead weight II is transmitted to the shaft 8, and includes also end discs 10 and 1I rigidly secured to the shaft. Ball bearings support the center disc 88 between the end discs 18 and 1I. With this construction the weight II pulling down on the meshing toothed segments 6I operates through the lever 62, shaft 63, and arms 66 to urge the central disc 68 toward the center of the machine, and this force exerted by the disc 68 is transmitted through the ball bearings to the end disc 1I and so to the shaft 8. 'I'he toothed segments 6I serve to keep the heads 9, 9' centrally located with respect to the machine.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the strand I3 of material to be wound on the ball is preferably pulled from the supply spool I4 by the rotation `of the ball and is led through a forked guide member 12, mounted on the frame I, and located so that its guide slot 13 between the forks is fairly close to the ball. Any suitable strand tensioning device may be employed, as for example, a pulley 14 (Figure 2) interposed between the supply spool and the guide 12. rotation of said pulley being restrained by a brake band 'I5 having a Weight 16 suspended therefrom.

The parts of the machine heretofore described would, without more parts, produce rotation of the ball about a single axis, i. e., the winding axis which is the axis of rotation of the shafts 8, and successive convolutions applied by such rotation, Would be superimposed and would extend around the ball in an equatorial plane at right angles to the axis of rotation.

Accordingly, additional means are provided for giving the ball components of rotation aboutv two additional axes, each disposed at an angle to the winding axis, but intersecting the winding axis at the center of the ball. For this purpose, the winding heads 9, 9' each comprise two separate parts, each of said parts rotating about separate eccentric axes extending parallel to the winding axis and oppositely disposed with respect thereto. Thus the winding head 9 comprises the parts 9A and 9B, and the head 9' comprises the parts 9A and 9B'.

As shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, the part 9A is in the form of a disk having a notch 98 formed therein, and the part 9B is in the form of a tooth which meshes with the notch 90 in the manner of a gear tooth as the parts rotate on their respective axes. The parts 9A and 9B are duplicates of the parts 9A and 9B, but are oppositely disposed, as shown.

In order to rotate the said parts shaft 4 carries a gear 11 which meshes with and drives gear '18 carried on a shaft 19 which is coaxial with and is supported by suitable bearings in the tubular shaft 8. Shaft 19 is free to rotate within shaft 8 and extends through slot 80 provided in the bracket I2. Mounted on the end of the shaft 19 and within the slot 80 is a gear 8|. This gear meshes with and drives a gear 82 mounted on eccentric shaft 83 Journaled in the bracket I2 and on which The gear 8I also meshes with and drives idler gear 84 mounted on shaft 85 journaled in the bracket I2, and the idler gear in turn meshes with and drives a gear' 88 mounted on eccentric shaft 81 also journaled in the bracket I2. Shaft 81 carries the part 9B.

It will be observed that the axes of rotation of parts 9A and 9A', i. e., the axes of shafts 83, are offset from the axis of rotation of shaft 8, and that the amount of offset is equal but in diametrically opposite directions. Likewise, it will be observed that the axes of rotation of parts 9B and 9B', i. e., the axes of shafts 81, are offset from the axis of rotation of lshaft 8 in equal but in diametrically opposite directions. Also, it will be observed that the axes of rotation of shafts 83 and the axes of rotation of shafts 81 are offset equal distances from the axis of rotation of shaft 8. Finally it will be observed that the brackets I2 rotate in the same direction on shafts 8, the parts 9A and 9A rotate in the same direction on brackets I2, the parts 9B and 9B rotate in the same direction on brackets I2, but the parts 9A and 9B rotate in opposite di rections and the parts 9A' and 9B rotate in opposite directions.

In order to understand the winding operation, letit be assumed that a core or ball has been placed between the winding heads in position such that the axis of shaft 8 passes through the center of the ball. Let it also be assumed that the position of the parts is such that the ball is held between the working surfaces of the parts 9A and 9A (Figures 10 and 12). If the shaft 4 is now driven, the shafts 8 are also driven due to the meshing of gears 52, 54, thus rotating the winding heads 9, 9 about the axis of shafts 8. and, of course, rotating the ball about the same axis. At the same time, however, shafts 19 are driven due to the meshing of gears 11, 18, and this causes rotation of parts 9A, 9A', 9B and 9B' on their respective brackets I2. Since the ball is held between the working surfaces of the parts 9A and 9A', the rotation of these parts on their respective axes causes the ball to roll along the working surfaces in an arcuate path indicated by the dotted line 9|, thus rotating the ball about a second axis :r-.r (Figure 12) which is obliquely arranged with respect to the first axis of rotation of the ball (axis of shaft 8) but intersecting the first axis at the center of the ball. The amount of the obliqueness depends on the diameter of the ball and the amount of eccentric displacement of the shafts 82 from the winding axis.

The covering rotation of the ball about the axis :r-.r combined with the winding rotation about the winding axis, causes the strand to wind on the ball a series of convolutions that form a belt 92 around the ball. The belt is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 12. This method of winding has the advantage of distributing about circles 93 the points of crossing of the successively wound convolutions 94.

The width of the belt 92 can be varied by varying the spacing of the axes 82 from the shaft 8. Further, the spacing between succeeding convolutions 94 can be varied by varying the relationship between the number of winding revolutions per covering revolution of the bal1 as prod uced by the eccentric rotations of the winding heads. Preferably the relationship is such as would cover the ball, i. e., complete the belt 92, as rapidly as desired without producing such wide spacing of lthe convolutions as will introduce forces that `would cause the strand to slip off the surface of the' ball. This relationship, i. e., the number of winding revolutions per covering revolution, is, of rse, determined by the speed of rotation of the shafts l and the speed with which the parts '9A d 9A' cause the ball to rotate. This latter speed is determined by the speed of eccentric rotation of the parts 9A and 9A and by the distance separating the eccentric axes of the wind,- ing heads and by the diameter or the ball. i

In the present embodiment, for example, these relationships are chosen so that the parts 9A and 9A' make one revolution for each twentyrevolutions of the shafts 9.

As the winding operation proceeds with the 'ball still held between the partsSAand 9A', it

will ber obvious that continued rotation of the parts 9A and 9A' on the bracket IZ will eventually cause the parts to reach a position (Figure 11) such that the ball rolls off of the' working surfaces of the parts 9A and 9A' and is transferred onto the working surfaces of the parts 9B and 9B'. As the winding operationcontinues, therefore, the ball is held between the working surfaces of the parts 9B and 9B' (Figures '7 and 9) and rotation of these parts on their respective axes, causes the ball to roll along the working surfacessoi.' these parts in an arcuate path indicated by the-dottedline 96. This action rotates the ball about a third axis y-y (Figure 12) which is also obliquely arranged with respect to. the first axis of rotation of the ball (axis of shaft 8) but also intersecting the first axis at the center of the ball. Axis y-y is oppositely disposed to axis :v -x, however.

It will be apparent that when the ball is transferred from the surfaces of the parts 9A,9A to the surfaces of the parts 9B, 9B', the covering rotation of the ball about the axis y-y, combined with the winding rotation about the first winding axis, will initiate the winding of another series of convolutions in the form of a belt of the same nature as the belt 92, but, due to the shifting of the axis of rotation from r-az to yy, the new belt is angularly disposed to and crosses the preceding belt and 'covers the areasleft uncovered in winding the preceding belt.

As the winding operation continues` the ball will eventually roll oil of the surfaces 9B and 9B and will be retransferred onto the surfaces 9A and.9A', at which time covering rotation on the axis :r-:c will be resumed, and a new belt of rotated on the axis y-y. This relationship has been found satisfactory to produce balls having substantially perfect spherical shapes, but it will be understood that the relationship may be varied considerably and still produce satisfactory results. f

In this connection, it will be understood that I when the axis of covering rotation shifts from :v -a: t0 1I-11, and then shifts back again to :c-x, the new axis mwill not be coincident with the old axis .1r-x. Consequently, the new belt of convolutions wound while the ball is rotating on the new axis z--x will not only be angularly disposed to and cross the belt wound while the ball was rotating on the u--y axis, but also will be angularlyidisposed Vto the `belt wound while the ball was rotating onvthe old :r--x axis.

The three components of rotary motion. are given to the ball without introducing any friction or sliding movement between the ball and the supporting surfaces of the winding heads. One of said components, i. e., that on the axis of shaft 8 is continuous, While the other two components, i. e., those about the axes -:r and y-y are intermittent and alternating. It will be observed, however, that rotation on the axis- :v-r is always in the same direction and that rotation on the axis 1/-1/ is always in the same direction. l

Preferably the working surfaces of the parts 9A, 9A', 9B and 9B' areprovided with shallow grooves 91, 98, concentric with the axes of the respective parts, with the deepest part of the grooves coinciding with the paths of rotation 9| and 99 respectively. The radius of curvature of the grooves should be greater than the maximum radius of the ball to be wound so that normally the ball is in contact with only the bottom portion of the groove. While such grooves are not essential to the successful operation of the machine, they are useful in assisting in retaining the ball in proper winding 'position under all conditions and particularly when the machine is op ei'ated at very high speed.

If desired, the working surfaces of the wind' ing. heads may be covered with a thin layer of rubber 99 in order to grip the ball more rmly and to prevent slippage.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a ball winding machine, in combination, a pair of oppositely` disposed winding heads, said winding heads being mounted for rotation on a common axis, each of said winding heads comprising a pair of parts each having a working surface adapted to engage the ball, and each of said parts being mounted for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis ofsaid winding heads,

but eccentric thereto.

2. In a ball winding machine, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed winding heads, said winding heads being mounted for rotation on a common axis, each of said Winding heads comprising a Apair of parts each having a` working surface adapted to' engage the ball, said working surfaces of each pair ofr parts being co-planar and arranged parallel to the working surfaces of the other pair of parts, and each of said parts being mounted for rotation on an axis parallel to` the axis of said winding heads, but eccentric thereto.

3. In a ball winding machine, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed winding heads, said winding heads being mounted for rotation -on a common axis, each of said winding heads comprising a pair of parts each having a working surface adapted to engage the ball, and each of said parts being mounted for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of said winding heads, but eccentric thereto, the parts of each of saidA pairs being shaped to mesh in the manner of gears as said parts rotate in opposite directions on their respective axes.

4. In a ball winding machine, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed winding heads, said winding heads being mounted for rotation on a common axis, each of said winding heads comprising a pair of parts each having a working surface adapted to engage the ball, said working surfaces of each pair of parts being co-planar and arranged parallel to the working surfaces of the other pair of parts, and each oi.' said parts being mounted for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of said winding heads, but eccentric thereto, the parts of each of said pairs being shaped to mesh in the manner of gears as said parts rotate in opposite directions on their respective axes.

5. In a ball winding machine, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed winding heads, said winding heads being mounted for rotation on a common axis, each of said winding heads comprising a pair of parts each having a Working surface adapted to engage the ball, and each of said parts being mounted for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of said winding heads, but eccentric thereto, the working surface of one of the parts of each pair being of greater extent than the working surface of the other part of the pair.

6. In a ball winding machine, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed winding heads, said winding heads being mounted for rotation on a common axis, each of said winding heads comprising a pair of parts each having a working surface adapted to engage the ball, said working .surfaces of each pair of parts being co-planar and arranged parallel to the working surfaces of the other pair of parts, and each of said parts being mounted for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of said winding heads, but eccentric thereto, the working surface of one of the parts of each pair being of greater extent than the working surface of the other part of the pair.

7. In a ball winding machine, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed winding heads, said winding heads being mounted for rotation on a common axis, each of said winding heads comprising a pair of parts each having, a Working surface adapted to engage the ball, said working surfaces of each pair of parts being co-planar and arranged parallel to the working surfaces of the other pair of parts, and each of said parts being mounted for rotation on`an axis parallel to the axis of said winding heads, but

eccentric thereto, one of the parts of each pair being in the form of a disk having a notch formed in the periphery thereof, and the other of the parts of each pair being in the form of a tooth which meshes with the notch of the other part of the pair as the parts rotate in opposite directions on their respective axes.

8. The method of winding a strand to form a spherical body, comprising holding said body between a pair of opposed surfaces, rotating said surfaces on a winding axis while holding said body, thereby imparting to said body winding rotation on said axis, rotating said surfaces on axes parallel to said winding axis but eccentrically and oppositely disposed with respect thereto, thereby imparting to said body covering rotation on a second axis, transferring said body to another pair of opposed surfaces and holding said body therebetween, rotating said second pair of surfaces on said winding axis to continue winding rotation of said body, and rotating said second pair of surfaces on axes parallel to said winding axis but eccentrically and oppositely disposed with respect thereto, thereby imparting to said body covering rotation on a third axis.

9. The method o`f winding a strand to form a spherical body, comprising holding said body between a pair of opposed surfaces, rotating said surfaces on a winding axis while holding said body, thereby imparting to said body winding rotation on said axis, rotating said surfaces on axes parallel to said winding axis but eccentrically and oppositely disposed with respect thereto, thereby imparting to said body covering rotation on a second axis, transferring said body to another pair of opposed surfaces and holding said body therebetween, rotating said second pair of surfaces on said winding axis to continue winding rotation of said body,vand rotating said second pair of surfaces on axes parallel to said winding axis but eccentrically and oppositely disposed with respect thereto, thereby imparting to said body covering rotation on`a third axis, the rotation of said body on said second axis being' continued for a different period of time from the rot-ation of said body on said third axis.

10. The method of winding a strand to form a spherical body, comprising holding said body between a pair of opposed surfaces, rotating said surfaces on a winding axis while holding said body, thereby imparting to said body winding rotation on said axis, rotating said surfaces on axes parallel to said winding axis but eccentrically and oppositely disposed with respect thereto, thereby imparting to said body covering rotation on a second axis, transferring said body to another pair of opposed surfaces and holding said body therebetween, rotating said second pair of surfaces on said winding axis to continue Winding rotation of said body, rotating said second pair of surfaces on axes parallel to said winding axis but eccentrically and oppositely disposed with respect thereto, thereby imparting to said body covering rotation on a third axis, and repeatedly alternating the rotation of said body on said second and third said body from the other, while the winding axis.

axes by repeatedly transferring one pair of opposed surfaces to always continuing rotation on BORIS BOGOSLOWSKY. 

